ABTA's annual Travel Trends report 2018 released last week predicted strong sales for overseas holidays this year. Faced with increased competition for convenient flights and popular destinations, people are booking ever earlier to secure their preferred resort or departure date.

City breaks and beach holidays remain the most popular choices, but twice as many people are planning to cruise this year as did last year, including more families and those aged 18-24. All-inclusive is popular particularly for those with young families, 34% of whom expect to take one in 2018.

New Horizons

A quarter of those polled were planning to visit a country they've never been to before with a third expecting to visit a new resort. New low-cost, long haul routes provide a great incentive for heading somewhere new. Celebrity travelogues such as the Real Marigold Hotel and its follow on series along with quality nature programmes like the BBC's Blue Planet II offer an engaging new perspective on familiar destinations for prime-time consumption.

The future looks bright.

Here are ABTA's 12 destinations to watch in 2018. Which is top of your list?

Our sales advisor Amanda has just returned from an action-packed adventure in Botswana, with African Pride and Belmond Safaris. From leopard tracking to a flight in a helicopter, discover more of Amanda's jaw-dropping experiences and find out what really happens on safari here.